CFS Reports 99.8% Food Safety Rate; 13 Samples Fail to Meet Testing Standards

CFS announces food safety report for August

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 30) released the findings of its food safety report for last month. The results of about 6 000 food samples tested (including food items purchased online) were found to be satisfactory except for 13 unsatisfactory samples that were announced earlier. The overall satisfactory rate was 99.8 per cent.

A spokesman for the CFS said that about 1 700 food samples were collected for microbiological tests, and about 4 300 samples were taken for chemical and radiation level tests.

The microbiological tests covered pathogens and hygiene indicators; the chemical tests included testing for pesticides, preservatives, metallic contaminants, colouring matters, veterinary drug residues and others; and the radiation-level tests included testing for radioactive caesium and iodine in samples collected from imported food from different regions.

The samples comprised about 1 600 samples of vegetables and fruit and their products; about 500 samples of cereals, grains and their products; about 700 samples of meat and poultry and their products; about 800 samples of milk, milk products and frozen confections; about 800 samples of aquatic and related products; and about 1 600 samples of other food commodities (including beverages, bakery products and snacks).

The 13 unsatisfactory samples were an orange sample, two choi sum samples, a pak-choi sample and a watermelon sample detected with pesticide residue exceeding the legal limit; a fresh beef sample found to contain sulphur dioxide; an imported prepackaged black cod steak sample detected with methylmercury, a metal contaminant, at a level exceeding the legal limit; four prepackaged milk samples found with a colony count exceeding the legal limit; an imported prepackaged rice vermicelli sample found to contain trace amount of formaldehyde; and a bottled pistachio paste sample found to contain an excessive amount of aflatoxin.

The CFS has taken follow-up actions on the above-mentioned unsatisfactory samples, including informing the vendors concerned of the test results, instructing them to stop selling the affected food items, and tracing the sources of the food items in question.

The spokesman reminded the food trade to ensure that food is fit for human consumption and meets legal requirements. Consumers should patronise reliable shops when buying food and maintain a balanced diet to minimise food risks.

Separately, in response to the Japanese Government's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the CFS will continue enhancing the testing on imported Japanese food, and make reference to the risk assessment results to adjust relevant surveillance work in a timely manner. The CFS will announce every working day on its dedicated webpage (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/daily_japan_nuclear_incidents.html) the radiological test results of the samples of food imported from Japan, with a view to enabling the trade and members of the public to have a better grasp of the latest safety information.

The Centre for Food Safety, Photo source: reference image

DEMS attends Signing Ceremony for Letter of Intent for Existing Commercial Building to Connect to Kai Tak District Cooling System

The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, today (September 30) attended the Signing Ceremony for Letter of Intent for an Existing Commercial Building to Connect to the Kai Tak District Cooling System jointly organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and Sino Property Services (Sino) at the EMSD Headquarters. Sino signed the letter of intent committing to connect Skyline Tower under its management to the Kai Tak District Cooling System, making it the first existing private commercial building to connect to the system. The EMSD presented Sino with an appreciation letter, expressing gratitude for its implementation of further carbon reduction measures and joint efforts in building a low-carbon smart city.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Poon said the project fully demonstrates the forward-looking environmental vision of private developers. Sino proactively proposed connecting Skyline Tower to the Kai Tak District Cooling System, switching fully from the building's original standalone central air-conditioning system to the more cost-effective and energy-efficient District Cooling System. It will not only significantly reduce capital investment and at least 20 per centelectricity consumption and hence carbon emission, but also free up rooftop space for solar photovoltaic panel installation and greening, serving as an exemplar for green upgrading and transforming, as well as achieving a win-win outcome. The participation of private developers is crucial to the development of district cooling systems in Hong Kong. With the active involvement of the industry, it is trusted that relevant technologies will become increasingly mature, contributing to the achievement of Hong Kong's carbon neutrality goals.

According to the signed letter of intent, Sino will officially submit an application in accordance with the District Cooling Services Ordinance and collaborate closely with the EMSD to jointly evaluate the project's energy-saving and carbon-reduction efficacy.

To encourage the industry and non-governmental organisations to construct small-scale district cooling systems or centralised multi-building cooling systems on a broader scale, the Government will formulate an enhancement scheme covering technical, tax and gross floor area arrangements, and announce the details within this year.